Task 2: ESL Website Evaluation

http://www.englishclub.com/learn-english.htm

1. What does the application attempt to “teach”?
The application has a wide range of content. It enlists from the most basic things namely English alphabets and pronunciation, to the basic skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. The content is quite simple and easy to understand. The skills and subtopics are divided into various levels, which indicate that the website is made for all walks of life. Moreover, the application also offers “English for Work”, “Business English” and “English Reference”.

2. What sorts of things is the application user expected to do with regards to learning the content?
First of all, the user should have positive attitudes toward their own learning. The learners are expected to be hardworking and determine enough to explore the website. The face validity of the website is enough to show the details of the language; the weak-spirited might just chickened away by just looking at the list of subtopics that they need to explore one by one. The content has been classified specifically, so be prepared for a shallow explanation. The application also has an adequate numbers of exercises with various types of questions. Ample practice will surely make perfect! Moreover, notes are prepared and it is printable.

3. What sorts of computer skills is the application users expected to have in order to operate/access/use the application?
Basically the users need the knowledge of how to use Internet since the application can only be viewed online. Other than that, since the application “teaches” listening as well, learners are required to know how to use hardware such as speaker or headphone, aside from the basic keyboard and mouse. Users may have to know how to use printer, just in case they want to print the exercises or notes.

4. While you are “playing”/ “accessing”/ “assessing” the application, does it remind you of anything you do in a classroom, or with teacher, or with a fellow classmate or in self-study?
In contrast, it reminds me of everything I did not do in my classroom, with my teacher, classmates and my self-study. English, as I see it since young, is a very interesting subject. However, our English classroom activities are always with pen, paper and a bit of blackboard. Every lesson would be started with “take out your textbook and turn to page…”. Then we would have “read together” activity, continued by “questions and answers” and finally “copy the exercises”. Every lesson was almost the same. If only we had this kind of application back then, I bet the participation would increase. The environment plays important role in motivating the learners.
When I was in Form 5, my English teacher was a very busy person. His lesson was very interesting, but his packed schedule really affected our lessons. If only we had access of this website six years ago, I think he would never bother to enter the class. The website alone could teach us almost the whole syllabus with interesting exercises and games.
If my classmates were colors, I would say that my class during my schooldays was colorful! They were my motivator to come to school. We shared so many things, but only few from our lessons. If only the website was exposed to us before, I bet no one would skip English class. Even though the exercises are simple, it is a lot more attractive, interactive, and interesting than chalk and talk. With my colorful classmates, surely the lessons would so much fun.
One thing that came to my mind while I was “trying” the website; if I were to study through this virtual classroom, I have to be really hardworking, determine to success, strong will power and high intrinsic motivation to explore and learn English through the links. Compared to thick books, I would prefer the bright, colorful pages from the website.

5. Can you pinpoint some theories of language learning and/or teaching underlying the application?
The website serves a very wide range of English. It “teaches” all the basic skills, the parts of speech, sentence structure and so forth. Therefore it is hard to determine which theories of learning underlie the application. However, after looking through the links of activities, in my opinion, the website is based on the Direct Method.
Adapting the principles of Direct Method onto this website, the instructions were given in the target language. The vocabularies are taught inductively (except for business vocabulary) together with the sentences. Grammar, even though can be learnt in a separate lesson, it was also taught inductively. Furthermore, both speaking and listening comprehension were also taught and given a good focus. Since phonetic is as well taught, correct pronunciation and grammar were emphasized.

References: Brown, H. D. (2001). Teaching by Principles: An Interactive Approach to Language Pedagogy (Second Edition). New York: Addison Wesley Longman.

6. How well is the constructivist theory of learning applied to the chosen website(s)?
As far as I understand, constructivism mainly promotes meaningful learning. Different individuals practice different styles of learning. As for the websites, with various aspects and different levels in the subtopics, learners are actually required to explore the website by themselves. Even though the words used are simple, students have to understand everything they are reading to make sense of the learning. The different levels of proficiency may as well cater the learners in learning the language through the website.

Reference: http://www.exploratorium.edu/ifi/resources/constructivistlearning.html (1996). Retrieved on <<5th February 2009>>

7. In 1980s and early 1990s, there was a major debate on ‘whether the computer was “master” of or “slave” to the learning process (Higgins and Johns, 1984). In relation to your evaluation – was the computer a replacement for teachers, or merely an obedient servant to students?
Computers will never be a replacement for teachers. Teachers’ service will be demanded as long as there is a learner. In relation to my evaluation, in term of content wise, the website is almost perfect. It covers almost every aspect in the language. The instructions and explanations given are also very clear and comprehensible. However, one way communication cannot beat a mutual interaction between humans.
Secondly, this application can be accessed anywhere, as long as there is Internet connection. Moreover, the content is revisable and easier to go through notes and exercises compared to the traditional notebooks. Even though the practices cannot be saved, the notes are printable for future references. However, nothing can be compared with the satisfaction flipping through the old notebooks, which are thick with the record of notes and exercises, not to mention, “decorated” with red marks and lengthy comments from the teacher.
Aside from that, this website allows students to get immediate feedbacks. Learners will be able to check their answers right after they complete the exercises. Self-study and independency are also promoted through this kind of application. However, without any guidance from a person called teachers, learners will be failed to complete even a task. Teacher can be a pressure for students, but it is a pressure for good.

8. Would you like to use the application yourself in your future work?
Yes, even though the website seems boring, the content wise is really help in learning the language. The content is very specific and well organized will ease me in planning a lesson. Various types of exercises from different levels of proficiency will help me forming the exercises for my students. I can have my exercises printed or my students can enjoy it directly from the website. Nevertheless, this is just a way to vary my teaching aids and my students’ learning instruments. I should not stick to this application or anything similar with this for all the time. Therefore, sometimes I will get back to the traditional classroom method.
Moreover, the websites also provide the links for ESL Forum, ESL Blog and ESL Chat Room, where the users are able to share their thoughts and opinions.

9. Suggestions/Recommendations:
There are few suggestions in ensuring the effectiveness of this application. First of all, if possible, the website should be viewed in class, together with the teacher. Students can open it at home, but they must refer to their teacher if there are any difficulties or problems regarding their lesson in the website.
Next, it will be really enjoyable if the activities can be shared in a group. It is known that sharing a computer is not efficient; therefore the teacher should think of other ideas to share the lesson in group. For instance, the texts and audio in speaking and listening can be used for role-playing. The basic skills should be integrated in order to have an efficient lesson.